WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

ABSTRACT

Background: Studying medicine is a demanding and stressful. Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it can have a negative impact on social, psychological, and well-being. Aim: In this study, we measured and monitored the stress level in students of King Saud University of Health Sciences, and it is related to the grade point average (GPA). Subject and methods: 159 students participated in the study, and a 72% response rate Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) instrument was used to understand the effect of stress on the overall performance of students and to determine the effect of students’ characteristics on developing stress. The questionnaires were distributed to students. It includes demographic information and a student GPA and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results: The overall mean PSS-10 score in our study was 21.67 (SD = 6.88), which is considered moderate stress. Female students had a statistically significantly higher stress score of 23.89 (SD = 7.08) than male students (20.09 (SD = 6.30), t (152) =3.504, p=0.001. Additionally, students with a GPA of 3.75 out of five or higher had a significantly higher stress score of 23.49 (SD = 6.27) than students with a GPA lower than 3.75 out of five 19.55 (SD = 7.01), t(141)=3.533, p=0.001. Furthermore, there is a statistically significant stress score difference between age groups (F (5,148) = 3.013, p = .013). The stress score was statistically significantly higher for students who were 18 years old (25.55 ± 4.16, p =.049) and 19 years old (23.78 ± 5.36, p = .044) than for students who were 22 years old (18.62 ± 7.58). Conclusion: students with higher GPAs were stressed more than others students. Strategic interventions plan is needed to reducing stress level among students.